“I felt really confident pitching today,” Ahumada said. “I knew I had my team to back me up with any plays I needed.”

If dominating from the mound wasn’t enough, Ahumada was also was 3-for-4 at the plate with three RBIs, including a two-RBI single in the bottom of the sixth to give Mishicot its final margin.

Indians’ coach Dawn Krueger was thrilled with the performance of her stellar junior.

“Thirteen strikeouts, can’t ask for more from her,” Krueger said.

The game started out rough for Mishicot, which saw Howards Grove get runners on second and third with one out in the top of the first.

Ahumada got the Tigers Zaylie Kleinman to ground out before striking out her pitching counterpart Paige Splittgerber to end the threat.

Splittgerber took the loss, allowing six earned on 14 hits in six innings for the Tigers.

“With those runners on I knew I had to step it up,” Ahumada said. “My team has confidence to keep it under control.”

Krueger agreed with her pitcher’s assessment of the situation.

“I think Alyssa just had it all under control,” Krueger said. “She took care of everything, and we had confidence in her. We didn’t really panic.”

Taylor Hayner reached with a one-out single in the second for Howards, but after that Ahumada turned up the heat, retiring the next 12 batters she faced.

For Mishicot’s offense, it was slow going to start.

The Indians generated a run in each of the second and third innings to take an early 2-0 advantage.

Emily Mowrer had an RBI single in the second, while Ahumada drove in one with a single in the third.

The floodgates began to open in the fifth for Mishicot, getting an run on a sacrifice fly from Hailey LeClair and an RBI single by Teha Nguyen to build a 4-0 lead after five complete.

“We were slow offensive but then our bats got going for us, and we played great defense,” Krueger said. “We just had to relax and adjust to the pitcher, see what she was throwing.”

Ahumada’s two-RBI single highlighted the sixth, while the other run came on a throwing error by the Tigers catcher allowing Mowrer to come home from third.

“I think that hit made us more comfortable,” Ahumada said. “It made us think we could do anything and to not worry.”

Besides Ahumada’s big game, four different Mishicot batters registered at least two hits.

LeClair and Amanda Langley were both 2-for-3, while Nguyen went 2-for-4 and Mowrer 3-for-3 including a double in the fourth.

Mishicot has earned a bye into the regional semifinals of next week’s WIAA Division 3 playoffs, so Friday’s win just adds to the confidence the team already has.

“We’re excited for the playoffs,” Krueger said. “There are going to be tough teams in our regional but we’re focused one game at a time, doing what we can to be successful. Alyssa is doing a good job pitching so she’s going to help us.”

Posted!

A link has been posted to your Facebook feed.

Mishicot's Alyssa Ahumada (7) pitches for the game against Howards Grove on Friday, May 20 in Mishicot. Ahumada stuck out 13 batters and helped the Indians defeating the Tigers 7-0. Yi-Chin Lee/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wi

Mishicot shortstop Emily Mowrer (9) rolls over to catch a fly ball during top third inning against Howards Grove on Friday, May 20 in Mishicot. The Indians defeated the Tigers 7-0. Yi-Chin Lee/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wi

Howards Grove's Taylor Bubolz (11) cannot catch the ball from cather Sarah Gardner to stop Mishicot's Kourtney Leroy (6) stealing the second base during the game on Friday, May 20 in Mishicot. The Tigers lost to the Indians 7-0. Yi-Chin Lee/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wi